Method and apparatus for crinkling yarn



Aug. 15, 11967 F. w. HOLE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRINKLING YARN v 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 30, 1965 INVENTOR. FREDERICK W. HOLE WFMMrLvA-K his ATTQR/VEYS Aug. 15, 1967 F. W. HOLE 3,335,475

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRINKLING YARN Filed June 30, 1965 5Sheets-$heet 2 FREDERSCK w; HOLE BY his afromns INVENTOR.

g- Tis, 1967 F. w. HOLE 7 3,335,475

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRINKLING YARN Filed June 30, 1965 5Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.

INVENTOR. FREDERICK W. HOLE BY his' ATTORNEYS Aug. 15, 3967 F. w. HOLEMETHOD AND APPARATUS FOR cnmxmm YARN 5 Sheets--Sheetv 4 Filed June 30,1965 INVENTOR. FREDERRCK W. HOLE his ATTORNEYS F. W. HOLE Aug. 15, 1%675 Sheets-$heet Filed June 50, 1965 /O I. E I V v T m FREDERICK W. HOLEhis ATTORNEYS 3,335,475 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CRINKLING YARNFrederick W. Hole, Tiverton, Devon, England, assignor to John Heathcoat& Co., Ltd., Tiverton, Devon, England, a corporation of Great BritainFiled June 30, I965, Ser. No. 468,280 Claims. (Cl. 281) This inventionrelates to a crinkling method and apparatus and, more particularly, amethod and apparatus for crinkling yarns of a wide denier range.

It has been proposed to crimp or crinkle nylon and similar yarnscomposed of thermoplastic textile fibers by using movable sinkerelements to force the yarn into slots or spaces between sinker blocksthereby to impart a crinkled configuration, after which the yarn is setby the application of heat while it is held in its crinkled condition.Sufii-cient heat is applied to raise the temperature of the yarn aboveits softening point, so that the yarn retains its crinkled configurationafter cooling. This technique of setting thermoplastic yarns is initself well known to the art.

Such prior art proposals have not been completely satisfactory becauseof the ditficulty of forcing the yarn into slots or spaces in a movingcrimp device without considerable dragging of the yarn over thefollowing sinker elements which are in various stages of closure,inasmuch as the sinker elements would jam against a cam with a steepface. It has also been difiicult in conventional crimping devices towithdraw the movable sinker elements sufiiciently to permit the yarn toshrink during the setting operation. Yet another difficulty has been inarranging the sinker blocks and sinker elements sufliciently closetogether to permit a fine crimp to be obtained because of the guideslots needed for the reciprocating elements. Also, according to someprior art crimping devices both the sinker blocks and the sinkerelements must be reciprocated, thereby increasing the complexity andcost of such equipment. Furthermore, the conventional crinkling devicesgenerally employ positively driven reciprocating elements which act inone or possibly two plaens. As a result, considerable adjustment isrequired before a yarn of substantially different denier may becrinkled, and the character of the crinkle obtained is not alwayssatisfactory.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to overcome theabove-mentioned difiiculties of conventional systems for crinkling yarn.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel method andapparatus for crinkling yarn of a wide denier range.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention are attained bya method including the following series of steps. A thermoplastic yarnto be crinkled is fed to a rotatable crimping head which includes aplurality of mutually spaced apart sinker blocks which are fixedlymounted on the head for rotation therewith. A plurality of sinkerelements mounted on the head are adapted to be moved between closedpositions between the sinker blocks and open positions away from thesinker blocks. The yarn is introduced between the sinker blocks and thesinker elements when the elements are in their positions. Then thesinker elements are sequentially closed to entrap the yarn in a crinkledstate between the blocks and the elements. The yarn is heated to asoftened state while it is so entrapped, and the elements are thensequentially opened to release the yarn. The apparatus according to theinvention may also be used to crinkle yarns chemically by thermosetting,or mechanically by plastic deformation for fibers having a sufiicientdegree of cold flow. In this last case no heat would be applied to theyarn.

3,335,475 Patented Aug. 15, 1967 In the preferred form of the inventionthe sinker elements are pivotally mounted so that each such element isrotated into and out of a different one of the spaces between adjacentsinker blocks.

All of the above is more fully explained in the detailed description ofa preferred form of the invention which follows, this description beingillustrated by the accompany drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of part of a yarn processing apparatusincluding the yarn crimping apparatus according to this invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged elevational view of a guide and feed roller ofthe yarn processing apparatus of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of a portion of the guide of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the crimping apparatus ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the apparatus of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of the apparatus of FIGURE 5;

FIGURES 8 and 9 are enlarged elevation and plan views of sinkers formingpart of the apparatus of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a cam forming part of theapparatus of FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 11 is an enlarged perspective view of the sinker closing assemblyof the apparatus of FIGURE 4.

Referring first to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, a yarn 21 which may becomposed of thermoplastic textile fibers is, in the exemplary yarnprocessing apparatus 20 according to this invention, drawn off from acreel 22 and passed through a conventional yarn tensioning device 23which is in itself well known to the art. The tensioner 23 includes aninput guide 24 and an output guide 25. It then passes via a feed rollerguide 28 to a feed roller 29 which is driven by a drive roller 30. Theyarn passes through a U-shaped portion 31 (FIGURES 2 and 3) of the feedroller guide 28, around the feed roller 29, over a hook portion 32 ofthe guide 28, and again around the feed roller 29 to a guide 40. Adepression 33 formed in the hook 32 prevents the yarn from accidentallyfalling off the hook. The yarn thus makes one and one-half loops aroundthe feed roller and is engaged between the feed roller 29 and the driveroller 30 twice. This treading arrangement of the yarn over the guide 28and feed roller 29 enables the yarn to be advanced by the drive roller30 at the desired predetermined speed.

The yarn then passes over a conventional pre-oiling roller 42 to a yarncrimping apparatus 45. The roller 42 is mounted for rotation in anoil-containing bath 43 so as to transfer oil from the bath to the yarn21 in order to accomplish the lubrication or dampening thereof, ifdesired. The roller 42 and bath 43 may be omitted for yarns of lightdenier. They may also be used to apply a suitable chemical setting agentto the yarn if the yarn is to be set chemically.

The yarn is fed to the crimping apparatus 45 through an inlet guide 47and then passes around the interior of the crimper 45. The yarn iscrimped or crinkled as it travels through the crimper and it leaves thecrimper through an outlet guide 48. From the guide 48 the yarn passesover a V-shaped guide 49, the position of which may be adjusted relativeto the crimper 45 as necessary to permit the yarn to cool sufficiently,if heat was applied thereto in the crimper. The yarn then passes througha trip wire 50 of a suitable electric stop motion switch 51, and a pairof guides 53 and 54 which control the path of the yarn over a suitableoiling roller 55. The yarn is then fed over a guide 57 and around atake-up tube 58, which is driven by a take-up drive roller 60, the tubebeing rotatably mounted on a pair of arms 61. The drive rollers 30 and60 are coupled to the drive means (not shown) for the crimper 45, andthe stop motion switch 51, insures that the drive means to the crimperis disengaged or is de-energized through conventional circuitry known tothe art in the event that the yarn goes too slack or breaks between thecrimper and the take up tube. The stop motion switch 51 is also a manualswitch which can be used to disengage the crimper to facilitatethreading up the yarn.

The crimping apparatus 45 (FIGURES 4 to 7) includes a housing 62containing a shaft 63 rotatable in anti-friction bearings 64 and drivenby a sprocket 65 connected to the drive means (not shown), while ahandle 66 is provided to permit the shaft 63 to be rotated manually ifdesired. A plurality of sinker blocks 70 are mounted on a supportingplate 71 which is secured to and rotatable with the shaft 63. The sinkerblocks are arranged in a circle to provide a plurality of radial spaces,a plurality of spacers 72 holding the blocks 70 perpendicular to thesupporting plate 71. A sinker locating ring 74 holds the blocks in thedesired radial position, each sinker block 70 being formed with a not-ch75 (FIG. 8) for receiving the ring 74. A cut-away portion 76 in thesupporting plate 71 permits the free movement of the ends of the sinkerblocks 70 Without twisting, and also facilitates the removal of anydeposits.

A plurality of movable sinker elements 78 are pivotally mounted by theirinner ends in the spaces between the fixed blocks 70 so that the outerends of the elements 78 can move to and from the supporting plate 71between a closed position in which the free ends of the sinker elements78 are engaged in the spaces between the fixed blocks 70 and an openposition in which they are disengaged from the spaces. Morespecifically, each of the sinker elements 78 is mounted for rotationinto and out of a different one of the spaces between adjacent ones ofthe fixed sinker blocks 70. The fixed blocks 70 and the movable elements78 may be made from thin sheet metal, for example.

Each sinker element 78 is provided at its inner end with a notch 80(FIGURE 8) which makes a loose fit with the ring 74, so that theelements 78 are hinged on the ring 74. The inner ends of the elements 78are retained in the spaces between the sinker blocks 70 by a sinkerretaining plate 82, a notch 83 at the inner end of each element 78insuring the free rotation thereof. The retaining plate 82 also holdsthe fixed blocks 70 securely against the supporting plate 71. Themovable elements 78 are also rotatable with the plate 71, and the fixedsinker blocks 70, the plate 71 and the movable sinker elements 78comprise a rotatable crimping head 85. As the crimping head rotates, thesinker elements 78 are caused to move between their open and closedpositions by an arrangement of cams now to be described.

The cam arrangement comprises an opening cam 88 (FIGURES 4 and includinga ramp portion 89 which is engaged by a step 91 (FIGURES 6 and 8) formedin the outer end of each element 78 and which is shaped to cause theelements 78 to swing to their open positions so that these elements areopen at the angular positions of the crimping head at which the yarn isto be supplied to, or withdrawn from, the crimping head. The outer endof each sinker block 70 has a cut-away portion 93, and the yarn is fedinto the notch formed between the portion 93 of the blocks 70 and thecorresponding sinker elements 78. The cam arrangement also includes aclosing cam 95 (FIGURES 4, and 11). A rod 97 extending from the cam 95is received in a bore 98 in a shaft 99 which is rotatably mounted in anarm 100 carried by the housing 62. This cam 95 has a lead-in edge 104the inclination of which relative to the fixed sinker blocks 70 can beadjusted by rotation of a cam pin 106 which is mounted on the arm 100.The pin 106 is formed with an eccentric shoulder 107 (which isexaggerated for clarity in FIGURE 11) so that rotation of this pin inthe proper direction adjusts the inclination of the edge 104 asrequired, the shoulder 107 engaging a rocker arm 109 which is secured tothe shaft 99. A set screw 110 holds the pin 106 in any position to whichit has been adjusted.

When the crimping head is rotated in the direction shown by the arrow111 (FIGURE 4), the movable elements 78 are sequentially engaged by thelead-in edge 104 of the cam and are rotated into the correspondingspaces between the sinker blocks 70. In particular, each movable element78 is engaged by the cam 95 between the notch 80 and the step 91 asclose to the notch 80 as possible, so that a mechanical advantage isdeveloped whereby the outer end of each movable element moves asubstantially greater distance than the portion of the element whichengages the cam. Each of the sinker blocks 70 is formed with anintermediate joggle 113 which engages the movable elements 78 to guidethem between the blocks 70 without producing a rubbing or a shearingaction which might cut or abrade the yarn.

The cam 95 is provided with a roller 114 of small diameter arranged tocomplete relatively quickly the movement of the sinker elements 78 intothe spaces between the blocks 70. In this way the yarn is forced into aparticular space without being dragged over the following sinkerelements 78 which are engaging the lead-in edge 104. The cam 95 has anedge 116 on the opposite side of roller 114 from the lead-in edge 104which serves to hold the elements 78 closed until a sufficient number ofelements are closed so that rotation of the head 85 will pull the yarnwithout slippage. The pivots of the sinker elements 78 are so arrangedthat thereafter these sinker elements are held closed by centrifugalforce until they are opened by the cam 88. The crimping head 85 isrotated at such a speed that the centrifugal force does not prevent theyarn from shrinking as it sets while entrapped between the sinker blocks70 and the sinker elements 78.

The arm (FIG. 4) is slidably supported on the housing 62 and is providedwith a slot 118 in which is engaged a flange 119 of a flanged screw 120.Rotation of this screw causes movement of the arm 100 in its slidesthereby to adjust the position of the cam 95 with respect to the sinkerelements 78 and consequently the depth to which this cam drives theseelements into the spaces between the sinker blocks 7 0.

The cam 95 is permitted to rock away from the sinker closing positionagainst the action of a spring 124 whenever the space between the sinkerelements 78 and the sinker blocks 70 is blocked by two much yarn. Thiswill cause an abutment 126 formed in the rocker arm 109 to engage anadjustable contact 128 and thereby ground an electric circuit (notshown) connected to a terminal 130 to disengage a driving clutch (notshown) of the drive means for the crimping head 85. Thus, the crimpingapparatus will automatically be shut down when it is overloaded. Thefree movement allowed to the cam 95 before the terminal 130 is groundedis determined by the position of the adjustable contact 128.

As each sinker element 78 approaches a predetermined angular positionwith respect to the housing 62, it is caused by the opening cam 88 toswing to its open position to permit yarn to enter through the inletguide 47 between that element 78 and the adjacent fixed blocks.Continued movement of the head 85 then causes the element 78 to be movedto its closed position by the cam 95 thereby to entrap the yarn in thespace between the element 78 and the sinker block on each side of it. Asthe yarn is sandwiched between the outer ends of the sinker blocks theytend to move apart, and the cut-away portion 76 permits this movement totake place without restraint from the supporting plate 71. Due to thenovel manner in which the elements 78 are pivotally mounted, thesections of the yarn between adjacent sinker blocks are twisted whilebeing forced into the spaces between these blocks, thereby imparting adesirable crinkle to the yarn. From to 40 or more V-shaped crimps may bemade in each inch of yarn by the novel arrangement of the sinker blocksand sinker elements. The elements 78 remain in the closed position forthe desired period of time after which they are again opened by the cam88 to permit the yarn to be released through the outlet guide 48. Whilethe yarn is in its entrapped state, it is heated to a temperature aboveits softening point by a suitable electric heater 134 (FIGURE 6), thetemperature of which is controlled by a suitable temperature sensingelement 135 through any appropriate circuitry (not shown) well known tothe art. A pair of enclosure plates 137 and 138 are preferably formed ofa suitable heat insulating material in order to facilitate the properheating of the yarn.

A representative list of some types of yarn which may be crinkled bythis apparatus follows, as well as the range of temperature and thepreferred temperature to which each yarn is heated.

1 Room temperature.

While the fundamental novel features of the invention have been shownand described, it will be understood that various substitutions, changesand modifications in the form and details of the apparatus illustratedand its manner of operation may be made by those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, theguides 47 and 48 may be provided with a plurality of eyes for guidingseveral yarns simultaneously through the crimping head 85, additionalcut-away portions being provided in the sinker elements as necessary.Also, this crimping apparatus may be used to crimp other yarns which donot require heat to be set, as mentioned above, in which case theelectric heater may be omitted or disconnected from its source ofelectrical current. All such variations and modifications, therefore,are included within the intended scope of the invention as defined bythe following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for crinkling yarn comprising:

a plurality of fixed, mutually spaced apart sinker blocks,

a plurality of pivotally mounted sinker elements which are adapted to berotated between closed positions in which they occupy the spaces betweenthe fixed sinker blocks and open positions in which they are disengagedfrom the spaces and outside a plane through said sinker blocks,

means for rotating the rotatable sinker elements to the open positions,

means for introducing the yarn between the fixed sinker blocks and therotatable sinker elements when the sinker elements are in the openpositions,

means for rotating the rotatable sinker elements to the closed positionsto entrap the yarn in a crinkled state between the sinker blocks and thesinker elements, and

means for withdrawing the yarn from the sinker blocks and the sinkerelements when the sinker elements are in the open positions.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 including rotatable support means uponwhich the sinker blocks are fixedly mounted and the sinker elements arepivotally mounted, and drive means for rotating the rotatable supportmeans.

3. Apparatus for crinkling yarn comprising:

rotatable support means,

drive means for rotating the rotatable support means,

a plurality of mutually spaced apart sinker blocks fixedly mounted onthe rotatable support means,

a plurality of sinker elements pivotally mounted on the rotatablesupport means, each of the sinker elements being mounted for movementbetween a different pair of adjacent sinker blocks, the sinker elementsbeing adapted to be rotated between closed positions in which theyoccupy the spaces between the sinker blocks and open positions in whichthey are withdrawn from'the spaces,

first cam means for engaging the sinker elements sequentially androtating them to their open positions,

means for introducing the yarn between the sinker blocks and the sinkerelements when the sinker elements are in the open positions,

second cam means for engaging the sinker elements sequentially androtating them to their closed positions to entrap the yarn in a crinkedstate between the sinker blocks and the sinker elements, and

means for withdrawing the yarn from the sinker blocks and the sinkerelements when the sinker elements are in their open positions.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sinker blocks and thesinker elements are disposed radially about the axis of rotation of therotatable support means, and the sinker elements are pivotally mountedat their inner ends.

5. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the first cam means engagesthe sinker elements at their outer ends.

6. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the second cam means engageseaoh sinker element at a point intermediate the inner and outer ends,whereby the outer end of the element is rotated a greater distance thanthe intermediate point thereof.

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sinker blocks areprovided with notches at their outer ends for receiving the yarn.

8. Apparatus according to claim 3, including guide means for spacing theyam-engaging portion of each sinker element from the yarn-engagingportions of the adjacent sinker blocks when the sinker element is in itsclosed position.

9. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the sinker elements are sopivoted that they are normally held in their closed positions bycentrifugal force when the support means is rotated.

10. Apparatus according to claim 3, including means for advancing theyarn to the introducing means at a predetermined speed.

11. Apparatus according to claim 3, including means for setting the yarnwhile it is entrapped in the crinkled state between the sinker blocksand the sinker elements.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the setting means includesheating means.

13. Apparatus according to claim 3, including means for applying achemical setting agent to the yarn.

14. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second cam meansincludes roller means for completing the movement of the sinker elementsto their closed positions.

15. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second cam means is soshaped to retain a plurality of the sinker elements simultaneously intheir closed positions.

16. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein tne second cam means isadjustably mounted with respect to the sinker elements to permitadjustment of the extent to which the sinker elements are rotated intothe spaces between the sinker blocks.

17. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the second cam meansincludes a camming surface adapted to engage the sinker elements, and isadapted to be adjusted to vary the'inclination of the 'camrning surfacewith respect to the direction of travel of the sinker blocks.

18. Apparatus according to claim 3, includin g means for biasing thesecond cam means in a desired position, a first electrical contactcoupled to the second cam means, and a second electrical contactdisposed in spaced cooperative relation to the first contact, wherebythe second 1 cam means may be driven by a sinker element from thedesired position against the biasing means to close the first and secondcontacts and effect the deenergization of the drive means.

19. A method tor crinkling yarn comprising the steps feeding the yarnbetween a plurality of mutually spaced apart fixed sinker blocks and aplurality of pivotally mounted sinker elements,

rotating each sinker element into the space between a different pair ofadjacent sinker 'blocks from a position outside a plane through saidsinker blocks to entrap the yarn in a crinkled state between the sinkerblocks and the sinker elements,

setting the yarn while it is in the crinkled state,

rotating the sinker elements out of the spaces between the sinker blocksto release the crinkled yarn, and

withdrawing the crinkled yarn from the sinker blocks and the sinkerelements.

20. A method for crinkling yarn comprising the steps simultaneouslyforcing the yarn into the spaces between a plurality of mutually spacedapart sinker blocks while twisting the sections of yarn between adjacentsinker blocks into a crinkled state, and

setting the yarn while it is in the crinkled state.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,696,034 12/ 1954 Swa'rtz 28--12,974,392 3/1961 Tim'bie 28--1 3,123,888 3/1964 Meyers 28--l 3,256,1346/ 1966 Rice 28-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 653,475 12/1962 Canada.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

25 L. K. RIMRODT, Assistant Examiner.

1. APPARATUS FOR CRINKLING YARN COMPRISING: A PLURALITY OF FIXED,MUTUALLY SPACED APART SINKER BLOCKS, A PLURALITY OF PIVOTALLY MOUNTEDSINKER ELEMENTS WHICH ARE ADAPTED TO BE ROTATED BETWEEN CLOSED POSITIONSIN WHICH THEY OCCUPY THE SPACES BETWEEN THE FIXED SINKER BLOCKS AND OPENPOSITIONS IN WHICH THEY ARE DISENGAGED FROM THE SPACES AND OUTSIDE APLANE THROUGH SAID SINKER BLOCKS, MEANS FOR ROTATING THE ROTATABLESINKER ELEMENTS TO THE OPEN POSITIONS, MEANS FOR INTRODUCING THE YARNBETWEEN THE FIXED SINKER BLOCKS AND THE ROTATABLE SINKER ELEMENTS WHENTHE SINKER ELEMENTS ARE IN THE OPEN POSITIONS, MEANS FOR ROTATING THEROTATABLE SINKER ELEMENTS TO THE CLOSED POSITIONS TO ENTRAP THE YARN INA CRINKLED STATE BETWEEN THE SINKER BLOCKS AND THE SINKER ELEMENTS, AND